No abstract

This paper introduces conditional counterfactual quantile decomposition methods to the literature on tourism consumption, where observed expenditure differentials are directly referred to differences in tourists’ targeted utility. Decomposition terms are synthesized with the neoclassical framework of utility‐constrained expenditure minimization, such that their interpretations do not rely on the approximation of tourists’ preferences by typical socioeconomic expenditure determinants. Using survey data from an underrepresented sun, sea, and sand destination, we show that differences in tourists’ targeted utility prior to the trip translate exclusively into higher quantities demanded of consumption‐related antecedents, as opposed to higher prices paid by high utility‐targeting tourists. The paper suggests that decomposition analysis may guide profit maximization in the tourism industry.

Tourism expenditures are determined by a set of antecedents that reflect tourists’ willingness and ability to spend, and de facto incremental monetary outlays at which willingness and ability is transformed into total expenditures. Based on the neoclassical theoretical argument of utility-constrained expenditure minimization, we extend the current literature by applying a sustainability-based segmentation criterion, namely, the Legatum Prosperity IndexTM to the decomposition of a total expenditure differential into tourists’ relative willingness to spend and an upper bound of third-degree price discrimination, using mean-level and conditional quantile estimates. Our results indicate that understanding the price–quantity composition of international inbound tourism expenditure differentials assists agents in the tourism industry in their quest for profit maximization.

Purpose The purpose of this conference report is to provide an overview of the Second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development. Design/methodology/approach This is a conference report that provides an overview of the Second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development. Based on the authors’ involvement in setting the scene for the conference and their attendance, they follow a thematic content analysis procedure to extract and synthesize the most important issues and concerns being discussed during the discussions and commentaries of the conference. Findings The report presents an overview of the conference, the main outcomes of its sessions and the main reoccurring themes during the conference’s sessions. Originality/value This is the first conference report on the Second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to international tourism market segmentation research by proposing a comprehensive framework that examines behavioral, benefits and lifestyle segmentations. The moderating roles of geographic segmentation (nationality) and advertising media types are also discussed. Design/methodology/approach Tourists volunteered to participate in a self-administered survey at random during peak seasons. Total number of collected questionnaires was 966. The authors used WarpPLS 6.0 software to analyze data. Findings Results from a sample of 919 tourists show that tourists in the benefit segmentation cluster had intentions to revisit the destination but they were unlikely to recommend it to others. Another finding indicates that marketing campaigns on different advertising media types might have different results when targeting different activities. Originality/value Leaning on the foundations of the marketing literature and the market segmentation theory, this research attempts to create a theoretical contribution that can be used to segment international tourists based on their travel motivations. Additionally, this study highlights the power of conditional probability approach, as it could be of more value than the predominant path coefficient approach.